Current Assumption UL Policies and Life Settlements: Made For Each Other

For the whole life policy, the “optimized premium” is also $50,000, paid at the beginning of the policy year. Although that premium can be paid quarterly (or monthly in some cases), any premium mode other than annual involves additional charges due to interest. If the premium is not paid in full, the policy lapses.

The optimized premium on a current assumption universal life policy, however, is typically a fraction of the illustrated premium. For most such policies, the charges for mortality and expenses are deducted from the account value, and so long as there is a sufficient account balance to pay the charges in any given month, the policy stays in force. By using actuarially designed software, it is possible to determine a schedule of future monthly cost of insurance (COI) and expense charges. This optimized premium stream may only amount to $10,000 to $15,000, rather than $50,000, in the first year, and can be paid monthly if the fund manager so desires. Although the COIs will rise over time and will ultimately exceed $50,000 per year, the present value of future premiums is lower than the other two policy types, making the current assumption policy more valuable as a life settlement.

If there’s a possibility the policy could be sold as a life settlement, make sure to realize this difference of value at the time of issue or prior to a term conversion.